Learning Freedom: Help Educate North Korean Youth

Earlier this year the Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR) and the Korean American Sharing Movement took six North Korean students who are now studying at universities in South Korea to Washington D.C. and New York as part of a leadership program designed to foster leadership skills and provide a global perspective. The students were given a rare opportunity to visit various international organizations and meet with experts of international development and North Korea.  We asked Kim,* a Politics and Diplomacy student at Korea University, to share his experience. 

*To protect Kim's family members who remain in North Korea, we cannot reveal his face and name. 

1. What I saw in the U.S.

Washington and New York: I saw both bright and dark sides of these two major cities---homelessness next to the White House; the political capital of the world; and a subway train that travels under the financial hub of the world, Wall Street. Both left a big imprint in my mind.

World power: The power of the world is in the United States, and the United States is a world power. I wanted to learn how that power is generated and applied.

2. What I experienced.

American knowledge: We listened to the lectures at the Peterson Institute, IMF, Woodrow Wilson Center, Open Society Institute, and the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea.  From these lectures I discovered where the United States’ power comes from and how it is utilized.

America’s potential: I now understand that the United States’ potential comes from innovative technology. When we visited the Woodrow Wilson Center, Dr. James Person told us that “this place is a candy shop of intellectuals.” He opened the whole universe for me with these words. I immediately thought that in the United States I could fulfill my academic passion, and that I would need to come here again.

3. The future.

Research: On the plane back to South Korea I could not stop thinking about when, if ever, I would be able to return to the U.S. I thought, this is my beginning, and when I get back to Korea, I need to re-organize my life to focus on the goals I want to achieve and the things I need to discard in order to achieve those goals. That’s when I made a life decision: I want to serve my country; I want to maintain my integrity. To do that, I would need to focus on my education.

Human network: I next realized that human networks and human resources are very important.  They are what make the United States an intellectual hub. 

4. Last words.

Even though I am lacking in many ways, I want to thank you for allowing me to participate in the leadership program. I will do my best to become one of the leaders driving the two Koreas to reunification.

Links:

• Website article about the Leadership Camp